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They sit around the boat as Uhtred sleeps, Skade drinks from water from the river, Finan is huddled at the back of the boat and the others are in the front. Finan watched horrified at the sight of Uhtred kissing Skade and Rúna snickered at him. She smiled when Sihtric started to braid her hair, she hummed lightly when his fingers would graze under her jaw.
"You should grow out your hair, Sitty. We could share charms and beads." She said casually and yelped in shock when he pulled her back by her hair and leaned down to kiss her. Eventually, they arrive back in Coccham.
"Is the idea we walk into Coccham like we've never been away?" Finan asked from where he walked with Uhtred. Rúna had her fingers interlaced with Sihtric's as she swung their hands and glanced around, Osferth playfully acted disgusted.
"Yes."
"Directly to the hall?" Finan questioned in disbelief, he looked back at them and huffed knowing they wouldn't help his case.
"Yes."
"And if another lord resides there?" Finan asked quietly.
"We ask him to leave, my friend." Uhtred spoke nonchalantly.
"I can do that. Are we to expect a wedding, lord?" Finan asked as he looked back at Skade. "We did not risk our lives for you to hump the bitch. Or do you plan to kill her with your cock?"
"I plan to see my children." Uhtred said dismissively and looked to a man who gained his attention.
"Lord, you will not remember me." A man claims as he bows to him.
"I remember you. You're Edwin. You're married to Mildwynn." Uhtred claimed happily as he patted the man's back.
"Lord, they have taken more than half our winter store. Animals and grains. They say it is to feed Alfred's army, but we will certainly starve." Edwin said in a panic.
"Who did this?"
"They're at the hall, lord. King Alfred would not have ordered this." Edwin said. Uhtred and his group walked to the gates of the hall and noticed guards were placed outside. She hated the Saxons and their king.
"Stand aside, I want no bloodshed, no man killed." Uhtred said and sighed when they refused to move.
"He said stand aside. Now!" The guards look at one another before moving. "Thank you. I should not need to raise my voice." Sihtric says softly and they enter, the Dane pulls her along with him. If her brother wasn't present she would have done very inappropriate things to her lover. Sihtric moves to the table to eat and drink ale as the priest takes notice of them, she lays her head on his shoulder as he feeds her.
"Uhtred. Uh, what is the meaning of this invasion?"
"This is my home." Uhtred stated and his glare softened when he heard his sister laugh.
"We are here by right, on the king's business." The priest said as he stood up.
"You are stealing food from the mouths of the poor." Uhtred said as he looked at the priest in disdain.
"An army needs to be fed."
"As do the priests, it seems." Uhtred says as he watches Skade stab a piece of meat on a priest's plate.
"You are lucky it is not your hand." Skade sneered at the man as she leaned in close.
"We want no disharmony here today." Uhtred turns and sees a cross hanging above the doorway.
"What is that?" Uhtred questioned.
"Well, you know what it is."
"Take it down. Take it down or I will make a gift of you to Skade." Uhtred threatened as Skade walked behind him in interest. Rúna looked at the seer and her brother while Sihtric remained unbothered.
"I will not do as you ask. I cannot."
"Lord, see it as a piece of wood, nothing more." Finan stated moving close to them.
"It is a holy cross."
"Bishop Erkenwald, I suggest you shut your holy mouth." Finan interrupted sensing the growing tension.
"And take it down."
"Or I...I can just take it down, lord?" Osferth added softly pointing up at it.
"You will do nothing." Uhtred demanded making Osferth nod.
"I realize you are looking to find a reason to kill me, and I would prefer to do as you ask. I am not a fool, but I cannot deny my faith. The king will hear of it, God would know of—" Uhtred cut in with anger.
"The king has told me many times that this is a pagan's hall. You will take it down."
"It is my cross, lord. My doing. I put it there and I would like it to remain there unless, of course, your plan is to once again be the Lord of Coccham. I meant no insult." Hild said from the entryway, Uhtred smiled softly just as Skade grunted and the cross fell. While everyone is distracted Rúna slides her hand down Sihtric's chest and pouted when Sihtric stopped her hand from grabbing his cock, he raised an eyebrow in amusement at her reaction.
"Not here, baby." She shivered at that and huffed when he smirked at her.
"Now, perhaps, we may eat." Skade says from above. Finan moves to dust off the cross as he picks it up.
"You may take it." Uhtred says as Hild and Skade stare one another down.
"When you leave, you will take only half of what you have gathered. I understand an army must be fed, but my village will not starve." Uhtred demands looking at the Bishop.
"The king will not approve."
"The king is a ghost! Nothing more than that." Uhtred shouts making the men whisper amongst themselves.
"Lord, may we speak further, privately?" Hild asked and the two left the hall as Skade stood by the door watching.
